Max and Craig Levitz pose at the 8th annual Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp in Lake Placid on Wednesday, May 8. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

LAKE PLACID — Sara McClanahan’s experience at the 8th annual Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp was a bit odd. The daughter of 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team player Rob McClanahan was chirped at and even pinned against the boards.

When asked if her last name made her a target on the ice, Sara turned around and looked for answer.

1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team member Dave Christian was quick to respond.

“Oh yes,” he said with a smile.

Of course it was all just playful banter. The other members of the 1980 team had known her father for years. Plus, this wasn’t her first time attending the camp.

Sara McClanahan, right, talks with 1980 Olympic hockey player Steve Janaszak at the 8th annual Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp in Lake Placid on Wednesday, May 8. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

She had previously been to Lake Placid in the past — once for CAN/AM hockey and another because her brother competed in one of the Lake Placid Horse Show events in the summer — but apart from last year’s camp this had been one of the few times Sara had ever really skated with her father and his 1980 Olympic teammates.

“To be on the ice skating against the other members of the team too is pretty special,” she said. “They’ve still got it. They’ve very much still got it,” she said. “It’s very special for it to come full circle years and years later and for all these other people to come and create bonds because of the success they had is pretty cool. I’m glad I get to be a part of experiencing that with my mom and dad.”

Sara was one of 65 hockey players from around the world who took part in the annual Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp, which was held between Sunday, May 5 to Wednesday, May 8.

Thirteen of the 18 surviving members of 1980 hockey team participated in the fantasy camp this year. Besides Christian and McClanahan the players included: Bill Baker, Neal Broten, Mike Eruzione, John Harrington, Steve Janaszak, Mark Johnson, Ken Morrow, Mike Ramsey, Buzz Schneider, Phil Verchota and Mark Wells.

Living teammates who did not attend were Steve Christoff, Jim Craig, Jack O’Callahan, Dave Silk and Eric Strobel. Defenseman Bob Suter died in 2014, and forward Mark Pavelich died in 2021.

Dave Christian skates during the gold medal game at the 8th annual Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp in Lake Placid on Wednesday, May 8. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

In addition, two other non-players from the 1980 team were in attendance during this year’s camp: assistant coach Craig Patrick and head athletic trainer Gary “Smitty” Smith.

Of campers who took part in the fantasy camp this year, 52 had participated in at least one camp prior.

There were also nine campers that had been to all eight camps.

The camp director and former ORDA employee Katie Million, who is currently the director of women’s national team programs for USA Hockey, said with so many returners the camp is bigger than hockey and is more of a family.

“Not only the campers themselves, but the players from the 1980 team. Obviously, it’s an unbelievable time for the 1980 team players to be reunited and to be able to hang out with each other for a few days, but the friendships that have been made throughout the camp, with the staff, players and campers, is just something we never dreamed of.”

Eight of the nine campers who participated in all of the camps pose for a photo at the 8th annual Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp in Lake Placid on Wednesday, May 8. In the front, from left, are Stanley Rumbough, Mark Schultz, Jeffrey Proulx and Paul Torre. In the back, from left, are Mark Strbiak, Shawn Jones, Darwen VanNatten and Ron Normandin. Missing is Kevin Sutorius. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

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Family affair

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When Craig Levitz, of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, attended the first-ever Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp in 2015, he made a promise to his son Max that the two would return once his son graduated from college.

So when Max graduated college the previous weekend, the two made the trip to Lake Placid.

Camper Brian Lilly carries the puck during the gold medal game at the 8th annual Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp in Lake Placid on Wednesday, May 8. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

“I’ve been looking forward to this for a really long time,” Max said.

Despite it being nine years since the last time Craig attended the camp, he said it’s like he never left, even though he’s only spent a few days with them.

“There’s so many people that have been here at every single camp,” he said. “I haven’t seen them in like eight or nine years. It’s been a long time.”

The Levitz family wasn’t the only father-and-son-duo or family members that attended the camp together; there were seven parents/sibling pair this year. But Craig said it was really special to share this experience with his son.

While Craig was 11 when the underdog U.S. team beat the heavily favored Soviet Union team 4-3 before winning the gold-medal game 4-2 against Finland during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid. Max was nowhere close to being born. But the 22-year old said he grew up playing hockey knows the whole story and how much the game meant.

Buzz Schneider coaches during the gold medal game at the 8th annual Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp in Lake Placid on Wednesday, May 8. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

“It wasn’t just a hockey game it was a lot more than that,” he said. “I’ve seen the movie (“Miracle“). I know the movie and I know the whole story. Being around all of these guys is a great experience. They’re all great guys. They’re all really nice. They love sharing and they love talking. Getting praised from one of them is just amazing. It’s such a great feeling.”

Max wasn’t even the youngest camper. The youngest was 21 and the oldest was 76. While most of the campers were alive during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, there nine campers that were under the age of 40.

“It’s been 44 years now,” 1980 player Mark Johnson said. “A lot of them have seen the movie ‘Miracle,’ so they understand it. With people coming back from the first time, it’s a unique place. It’s enjoyable, it’s fun, but it goes by quick though.”

During the fantasy camp draft on Monday afternoon, 1980 player Mike Eruzione said he drafted a 22-year-old.

“It’s fun because they all know our story,” he said. “For them to come here and be able to see everything first hand makes it that much more special for them as well.”

Million, who has been the director since its inception, said its very special that young people are just as excited to as some of the people who were around for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games.

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The stories

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Some campers traveled as far as Seattle, Washington, just to see some of their childhood heroes and to hear some of their stories from the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Both of Criag and Max Levitz said there favorite part of the week was the question-and-answer session with the 1980 members.

“Just hearing them open up and telling their stories,” Max said, “I know that half the room has probably heard them before, but I’m sure its just great for them to still hear it every single time.”

Craig said his favorite story was from Phil Verchota’s daughter, when they were moving from southern Minnesota to northern Minnesota.

While his daughter was very upset, Verchota, who isn’t one for confrontation, decided the best way to stop her from being upset was to suggest a trip to Dairy Queen. It didn’t go over well.

Sara McClanahan shared her own stories. In the 2004 movie “Miracle,” her father’s character was seen being held back by teammates after actor Kurt Russell, depicting 1980 head coach Herb Brooks in the movie, said, “A bruise on the leg is a hellava long way from the heart, you candy ass.”

“He had actually followed Herb out into the hallway and was yelling at him,” Sara said. “I guess the Swedish team came out of their locker room and was like ‘What the heck is going on here.'”

For the 1980 players, the camp has been a fun way to interact with campers, who love hockey and the stories from the Olympics.

“We get to connect with them and spend four or five days, have a little competition and social time and enjoy that together,” Johnson said.

“We have so much fun for a couple of reasons. One obviously to see my teammates, we don’t get that opportunity that often and two a lot of the campers have been here eight years, so it’s kind of part of our family,” Eruzione said. “Any time that you can come back to Lake Placid, it’s always pretty special.”

Johnson, who coaches women’s hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said its not too often that he runs into his teammates.

“So we get a good chunk of them back and spend sometime and catch up,” he said.

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The camp

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The fantasy camp is treated like a real professional hockey season, with a draft, games and a tournament with medals over three days.

On Monday morning, the campers skated on the Olympic Center ice as members of the 1980 U.S. hockey team evaluated their skills. The Olympians then drafted the campers Monday afternoon, by selecting them to one of four teams: Red, White, Blue and Gold. After the teams were filled, had their team meetings and the players participated in practice time on the ice.

Teams played three games each, Tuesday morning and afternoon and Wednesday morning, before moving on to either the bronze-medal game or the gold-medal game Wednesday afternoon. A medal ceremony was held afterward before the campers and Olympians posed for the official fantasy camp photo was taken on the ice.

Sara McClanahan’s team (White), which was coached by her father and Bill Baker, alongside player/coach Phil Verchota, lost the bronze medal game 10-7 to the Heroes (Blue), which were coached by Ken Morrow and Neal Broten, alongside 1980 trainer Gary Smith. Mark Johnson served as a player and coach on the team.

“I don’t even want to talk about it,” she said. “We had a tough go. But it’s all right. We had fun doing it, and that’s all we can ask for.”

Team Buzz Ram (Red) — coached by Buzz Schneider, Mike Ramsey and player/coach John Harrington — defeated Gold Beers (Gold) — coached by Steve Janaszak, Craig Patrick, Mike Eruzione and player/coach Dave Christian — 11-5 in the gold medal game.

Million announced that the camp will return next year from April 27 to May 1. Eruzione said he already plans on being at the 2025 fantasy camp.

“It all depends on my travel and work schedule,” he said.

John Harrington, right, signs a camper’s medal at the 8th annual Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp in Lake Placid on Wednesday, May 8. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

Camper Dave Hall shoots during the gold medal game at the 8th annual Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp in Lake Placid on Wednesday, May 8. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp co-director Jeff Potter, right, gives camper Linda Koenig her gold medal at the 8th annual Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp in Lake Placid on May 8. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)